Interfolding machine



April 26, 1949.

Filed Feb. 16. 1945 J. J. DELOYE 2,468,254

INTERFOLDING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JAMES J.DELOYE ATTORNEYS April 26, 1949- J. J. DELOYE 2,468,254

NTERFoLDlNG MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1945 5 sheets-sheet 2 II I 64 :l i@ 7 8 7 61H "I a IM 2 Z2 l Z o 67 zo zal e7 I II 51 n; 53 5I i 51 5g? o i 5 d 53 a, I T- J I 0 l 4 1 a5 32 57 i? /T w lff 5? f7 BZ) l o "J l l l 34 r *0f-xr k 4 /Z 42' l 32 75 /31 +7/ 3? 57 l IAM o1 el 49| 53 sa L/'/ i zrl 4-7)32 1: )0 l l l v V1 01 33 I 53 LH 1- 52 57 53 57 1 f 20H u 52 /T 75 H l f ill l Z2 I I 21 mvENToR JAMES JDELOYE April 26, 1949. .1. .1. DELOYE INTERFOLDING MACHINE m .u Il. ou NxN .ll B+ uw la 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JAMES J DELOYE m .2 non Filed Feb. 16, 1945 ATTORNEYS ,April 26, 1949- J. J. DELOYE l 2,468,254

INTERFOLDING MACHINE Filed Feb. 16, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 Y vENToR ,1 Es nuova ATTORNEYS April 26, 1949- V J. J. DELOYE 2,468,254

INTE IIIIIIIIIIII NE Patented Apr. 26, 1949 INTEaroLDrNG MACHINE James J. Deloye, Neenah, Wis., assigner to International Cellucotton Products Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application February 16, 1945, Serial No. 578,197

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to folding machines and more particularly to a rotary machine for interfolding and packing paper sheets.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a machine which will effectively fold and interfold lightweight, flimsy and bodiless sheets. such as facial tissue, without danger of tearing or pulling the sheets out of shape.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide novel means operating in conjunction l with the interfolding cylinders for receiving the sheets from the cylinders and packing the interfolded sheets in a neat stack.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of novel means for automatically actuating the tucker blades toward and away from the gripper jaws, so that not only will the paper sheets be effectively handled and folded interfolding machine, the section being taken but whereby the tucker blades will be within the I plane of or flush with the outer face of its cylinder at the point of packing of the sheets, so that the blades will not wipe past the packed stack and disturb said sheets.

A further object of my invention is the provision of means for automatically coordinating the closing of the gripper jaws withthe receding of the tucker blades,v whereby excessive wear on the face of the tucker blades and the edges of the gripper jaws will be eliminated.

A further important object of my invention is the provision of a novel and simple cam arrangement for automatically operating the gripper jaws and the tucker blades during the rotation of the cylinders, whereby said operating means can be effectively protected from dust and paper lint and thereby insure the proper and accurate working of the` jaws and tuckers.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an interfolding machine for facial and like tissues which will effectively operate at high speed and which can be maintained in production at an extremely low cost.

A still further object of my invention is to provide an improved interfolding machine of the above character which will be durable and efiicient in use, one that will be simple and easy to manufacture and one which can be placed upon the market at a reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through my substantially on the line I-| of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of my interfolding machine illustrating a part of the drive mechanism for the packers.

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, the section being taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the interfoldlng cylinders being shown in top plan.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail fragmentary sectional view through one of the cylinders, the section being taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows, the view illustrating the novel arrangement of the enclosed cams for actuating the receding tucker blades and the movable jaws of the gripper jaw sets.

Figure 5 is a detail transverse sectional view through one of the interfolding cylinders taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3 looking in the direc- -tion of the arrows and showing one of the sheet stripping and packing members.

Figure 6 is a detail transverse sectional view through the machine taken on the line 6 6 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, showing the novel arrangement of the cams and operating mechanism for the tucker blades and the movable jaws of the jaw sets.

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail fragmentary sectional view through the cylinders taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, the view showing the novel arrangement of a tucker blade and a gripper jaw set at the point of contact of the cylinders.

Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to Figure 7 and showing the position of a tucker blade relative to the gripper jaws after atucker blade has receded land the paper has been folded and gripped by a jaw set.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter F generally indicated my novel interfolding machine and the saine can be used in conjunction with my bond breaking mechanism shown in my application for patent filed January 27, 1944, Serial No. 519,895, issued May 13, 1947, as U. S. Patent No. 2,420,525. Obviously, however, my interfoldlng machine can be successfully used with any desired type of paper web feeding and sheet cutting mechanism. In all events facial cut paper webs III and H are fed down and between a pair of interfolding cylinders or rolls I2 and I3. Any suitable guide means,

such as rollers I4' can be positioned above and between the interfolding rollers or cylinders I2 and I3 so as to effectively guide the severed web between said interfolding rollers or cylinders. The webs or sheets are so cut by the cutting mechanism that the cut sheets of the webs will be staggeredly related to one another as is well known in this art.

The cylinders I2 and I3 are rotatably mounted within a suitable frame I4. In the present instance this frarne I4 has been shown to include side frame plates I5 and I6.

As intimated the interfolding cylinders I2 and I3 are of a novel construction, and these cylinders will now be described in detail. g

Each of the cylinders embodies a solid roll having formed on its opposite ends axially alined shaft stubs I1. rI'hese shaft stubs can be shouldered as at I8 intermediate their ends and the shoulders form stops for bearing sleeves I9. These sleeves can be carried by supporting sleeves which are mounted within the frame plates I5 and I6. The supporting sleeves 20 have formed on their inner ends cams 2 I, and these cams protrude toward, but end short or, the interfolding cylinders. From the description so far, it can be seen that the interfolding cylinders freely rotate within the supporting sleeves 20, which as stated are carried by the frame plates. At this point it is to be noted that the outer ends of the supporting sleeves can be provided with flanges 22 and these flanges are adapted to abut the outer faces of the frame plates I5 and I6. The ilanges are provided with arcuate slots 23 for the reception of cap screws 24. These screws are threaded into the frameplates and by loosening the screws the supporting sleeves 20 and consequently the cams 2l can be turned within certain limits so as to adjust the position of the cams for a vpurpose which will be later set forth. Y

AEach of the. interfolding cylinders or rolls I2 and I3 are constructed the same and each roll has formed therein at equi-dlstantly spaced points longitudinal grooves 25 for slidably receiv- 'ing the tucker blades 2li. Each 4tucker blade extends the entire distance across its cylinder and each blade has formed on its outer face a beveled sharpened blade extension 21, the purpose of which will later appear. The tucker blades are normally urged outward of the cylinders by expansioncoil springs 28 which have their opposite ends i'ltted respectively in sockets 29 formed in the rolls and in the inner faces of the tucker blades. The sliding movement of the blades is facilitated and guided by guide pins f 30 which are threaded into the lower walls of .the vgrooves 25. The blades 26 have formed therein guide openings 3l for the reception of the pins. At this point it is to be noted that the peripheries of the interfolding cylinders have formedthereinvannular grooves 32 and the blades are notched as at 33 to aline with these grooves. The Ygrooves 32 and the notches 33 are provided for the reception of packer and stripper members 34, as will be later described. The ends of the tucker blades 26 carry outwardly extendingbearing spindles 35 on which are rotatably mounted anti-friction rollers 36. These rollers cooperate lwith'a cam track 31, which will also be later described. The anti-friction rollers are held in place by'headed screws 38. The rollers and the cam track cooperate together to move the tucker blades inwardly and outwardly.

Also formed theperiphery of the interfoldf f Y 4 ing cylinders I2 and I3 are longitudinally extending grooves 39 and these grooves also extend entirely across the cylinders and are disposed between the grooves 25. Rockably mounted within the grooves 39 are movable jaws 40 which cooperate with stationary jaws 4I. Hence, the jaws are arranged in sets of a movable jaw and a stationary jaw. The stationary jaw of each set is formed by beveling ou one longitudinal edge of each longitudinal slot 39 and the movable jaw of each set is provided with an inclined jaw face 42 which coacts with a stationary jaw to momentarily grip a folded sheet. Each movable jaw has formed on its opposite` ends tapered spindles 43 which have mounted thereon cranks 44. The outer ends of the-cranks carry antifriction rollers 45 which travel on the cams 2|. Y

by the cylinders will be opened and closed at' thev proper times. The movable jaws are normally urged to a closed position by'relatively heavy expansion coil springs'46 which are positioned at spaced points alongjthey length of the movable jaw. The cylindersan be recessed to receive the springs 46 andthendsof the springs can carry rounded heads 41 for engaging the cylinders and the jaws. s Consequently, the springs can ilex during the opening and closing movement of the jaws'as canbe vclearly seen by referring toFigures'l and 8. 'f'

By referring to Figure Af-itcan' be seen that each interfolding cylinder carriesztucker blades and gripping jaw sets and that'the tucker blades and jaw `sets are alternately arranged relative to one another.

The two cylinders orinterfolding. rollers are so related relative to one another that a wedge shaped tucker blade or one -roll will arrive at the point of closest approach between the rolls simultaneously with the arrival or one of. the sets of gripper jawson the companionroll, as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and'.- Y 1 Y In order to facilitate themounting ofvthemovable jaws on the cylinders these movable jaws f are provided at spaced points with lcyundrical bearing portions 48 and bearing caps149 are set in the outer faces .of the Acylinders and hold the cylindrical bearing portions in place. It isV to be also noted thatthe` movable jaws are provided with notches 5U which aline with the annular grooves 32 in the cylinders, so as to allow i the passage of these jaws past th'packer and stripper members 34.A v A It is to be noted'that the cam tracks 31 employed for actuating Qthetucker blades 23 are formed on cylindrical housing collars 5I. These collars have formed on their outer edges outstanding ilanges 52 which abut the inner faces of the frame plates I5 and IG.- Headed screws 53 are employed for holding the housing collars and the cam tracksinlplace and these headed screws'extend through slots 54 formed in said ilanges, whereby the collars and their cam tracks can be vturned axially around their centers to initially adjust the position of the cam tracks relative to the tucker .blades and the cams 2I for the movable jaws 4l ofthe gripper jaw sets. Formed on the collars `are annular walls 5l aus-.iu

f 2i. the cam tracks, the anti-friction rollers I4 and 4|.and the opcrating cranks. Hence. these parts are fully` protected from lint and the like. I'his is not only desirable, but essential asthere is considerable paper dust and lint created when converting a web. such as facial tissue, into stacked interfolded sheets. Obviously. if the rollers and cams become covered with lint and paper dust, this would effect the timing and work o f the mechanism. The collars 5i terminate in as c lose relation as possible to the terminals of the lnterfolding cylinders or rolls I2 and Il.

To insure the driving of the interfolding cylinders or rolls I2 and Il in accurate timed relation to one another, so that the tucker blades and the gripper jaw sets will engage at the proper times, the shaft spindles I1 of the cylinders on one side have keyed or otherwise secured thereto like intermeshing spur gears I6. Que of the shaft `spindles l1 has also keyed thereto a drive spur gear 5l and any' means can be provided for operating this gear for driving said rollers.

The stripper and packer members 34 are driven from the interfolding cylinders or rollers and these stripper and packer members will now be described in detail. There is a stripper and packing device for each inter-folding roll or cylinder and each of these packing and stripping members include a rock shaft 58 disposed on the outer side of its cylinder. Each rock shaft has keyed or otherwise secured thereto arcuate crank arms 5l and these arms extend under its cylinder. Secured to each arm are relatively thin stripper and packer blades or shoes 60 which are adapted to normally travel or ride in the grooves 32. The shafts 58 are rocked through suitable mechanism, as will be described, so that the shoes 6I ,can move toward and away from the interfolding cylinders and toward and away from a magazine disposed below the interfolding cylinders for receiving a stack 6l of the interfolded sheets. By referring to Figure 1 it can be seen that the cranks or arms 55 terminate at the sides of the magazine and that the shoes 60 project beyond the arms so that the shoes can engage the sheets for 4moving the sheets downward in the magazine. The packers on the opposite sides of the magazine Work alternately relative to one another so that first the packers on one side engage the stack of sheets and then the packers on the opposite side .engage the stack of sheets. The rock shafts 58 are operated in the following manner. Formed on or secured to the ends of the rock shaftson one sideare crank wheels 62 and these wheels have secured thereto cranks 63. The cranks are in turn connected by links or connecting rods 64 with eccentric crank pins 65 carried by gears 66. The gears 66 are mounted upon stub shafts il mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame plates i5 and I6. At this point it is to be also noted that the rock shafts themselves are also mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame plates I5 and I6. The gears 66 mesh with spur gears 68 and 69 which lare keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft spindles Il which are remote from the spindles carrying the intermeshing gears 56. The spur gears 66 and the gears 68 and 59 are so proportioned relative to one another, that the rock shafts will be actuated in proper time relation to the interfoiding cylinders and the tucker blades and gripper jaw sets carried thereby. In order to initially adjustthe timing of the rock shafts 58, it will be noted that the cranks 63 are adjustably condisturb the folded sheets once they are deposited 6; neeted to the crank wheels 52. .--1his can be accomplished in any preferred manner, but as shown the cranks 53 are provided with arcuate slots Il through which extend the attaching screws ll. These screws are threaded intol the wheels I2` and consequently by loosening the screws li the cranks can be axially turned around the wheels 52 within certain limits.

friction rollers 45 for the cranks 44- ride on the peripheries of the cams2'i and consequently the movable jaws of the jawsets are held open against the tension of the springs 46.- When the rollers ride on the low part l2 of the cams, the springs 46 function 4to move the Ijaws 4U of the jaw sets to a closed gripping position (see Figure 8'). This happens just after the' meeting of a y tucker blade with a jaw set (see Figures 1 and 7).

`The cam tracks are of such a shape that th'e high points thereof are adjacent to thelower ends of the interfolding cylinders at all tiines and consequently. when the rollers 35 Aengage the high points of the cam tracks, the rollers 36 willbe moved inwardly and this will carry the tucker blades inwardly toward theaxial center of the interfolding rolls. The receding of the tucker blades takes place after the blades have moved the paper sheets between a gripping jaw set, and consequently as a jaw set Afunctions to grip the sheets the coacting tucker blades will be moved inwardly away from the jaw set. This will effectively reduce wear and so position the tucker blades that the same will not engage or wipe past the stack of interfolded sheets.

It is desirable and advantageous to provide a neat pack of interfolded sheets. In all interfolding machines that I am familiar with the tuckers extend beyond the interfolding cylinders in a fixed position and obviously these tuckers intermittently come in contact with the previously deposited sheet and tends to disturb the same. On a sheet having a relatively heavy body such as toweling or toilet tissue, this will not be so pronounced but on facial tissue or other lightweight ilimsy stock, it is-desirable to retain the sheets in the same position as they were .de-

posited below the cylinders and to keep as much as possible any -parts of the cylinders from actual contact with the folded sheets after theyl have once been deposited. The packing members 34 cooperate with the cylinders to bring this about 'and due to the fact that the tucker blades recede into the cylinders the same do not contact or in folded form for packing. In interfolding machines, where the tucker blades protrude at all times beyond the cylinders the same tend to keep brushing the fold or stack'ilrst one way and then the other.

4My packers function in a manner to form a neat pack and in this connection it is to be noted that it is impossible to jog or agitate facial tissues into a proper neat pack in that facial tissues will not slide one upon the other. Con-` sequently, if a neat pack is not formed at the very start, the nished package will not be in any better conditions than the deposited stack of the other cylinder.

sheets. With towellng and toilet sheets, which have a certain rigidity and body, this is not the case as they can be logged or agitated into positionvIirom the foregoing description, the operation of my machine will be obvious. Briefly, however, it will be noted that the cut staggered sheets Ill and Il are fed in a continuous manner between the interfolding cylinders and as the tucker blades of one cylinder are'staggeredly related to the jaw sets of the other cylinder, a tucker blade of one cylinder will cooperate with a jaw set of Due to the arrangement of the cams 2| and the rollers l5 and cranks 44, the movable jaw of this jaw set will open as the same engage the sheets and the tucker blade will fold and move the sheets in between the open jaws of the jaw set. As the coacting tucker blade and jaw set moves away from one another, the tucker blade (due to its arrangement of rollers 36 and the cam tracks 3l) will begin receding and the movable jaw of the jaw set will close and grip the folded sheets. This jaw set will carry the folded sheet downward onto the stack and at this time the packer member 34 which is opposite to the jaw set carrying the sheet, will move downwardly to engage the sheet and urge 'the sheet downward onto the stack. Likewise at this time the rollers 45 for this movable jaw will ride onto the high point of the cams 2| and the movable jaw of the jaw set will open allowing the quick and accurate depositing of the folded sheet on the stack.

All of the parts of my interfolding mechanism are so arranged relative to one another that the machine can operate eifectively.

Changes in details may .be made without de- I parting from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In an interfolding machine, a frame, a bear ing sleeve rotatably seated in said frame and provided with a flange engaging the outside of and clamped to said frame so as to adjustably hold said sleeve in selected position, a cylinder provided with a shaft extension at one end rotatably mounted in said sleeve, said sleeve having an inner end portion projecting inwardly beyond the inside of said frame and provided with a peripheral, external cam surface, a housing rotatably adjustably secured to the inside of said frame and enclosing said shaft, said cam Aprojection of the sleeve, and the space intermediate said frame and the adjacent end of said cylinder, said housing having an internal cam surface, gripping jaw sets carried by the cylinder including a movable jaw member, means connected to said movable law member and cooperating with said external cam surface for actuating said movable ,law as an incident to rotation of the cylinder. a movable tucker carried by said cylinder, and means connected to said tucker and cooperating with said `internal cam surface for actuating said tucker as an incident to rotation of the cylinder.

2. In an interfolding machine. a frame. a cylinder, a bearing sleeve secured to said frame, a cylinder having a stub shaft rotatably mounted in the sleeve, said sleeve having an extension projecting from said frame toward the cylinder and said extension being provided with an external cam surface, a housing secured to theframe and extending therefrom substantially to an end of said cylinder, said housing surrounding the stub shaft and bearing sleeve and having an internal cam surface, gripping jaw sets carried by the cylinder including a movable jaw member, means carried, by the movable jaw i'or cooperation with the external cam surface of said sleeve extension for moving said Jaw during rotation of the cylinder, a movable tucker blade carried by the cylinder. and means cooperating with the internal cam surface of said housing for moving the tucker blade in proper timed relation relative to the movable jaw during the rotation of the cylinder, said sleeve and said housing being independently rotatably adjustable about the axis of said sleeve to thereby effect adjustment of said external and internal cams relative to one another and relative to the cylinder, and said sleeve having engageable means accessible from the outside lof said frame for facilitating said rotatable adjustment thereof.

JAMES J. DEDOYE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

